Thankful Thursday: June Joy: part two

After our great trip to Wisconsin, we decided to go an extra two hours out of the way to go to on over to Omaha, Nebraska, to the Mormon historical site, Winter Quarters.

What a wonderful experience.
So much tribute to the Mormon pioneers who were forced out of Ill.
Seeking religious freedom they headed west, and 'over wintered' here, at Winter Quarters.

(More Winter Quarters info)

Using guidance from neighboring Native Americans, was their only hope.
Later, some went on to Utah, but many stayed behind to help others. 
Always organized, they set up homes and supplies for their needs and  future travelers.
Thousands passed through here.

Exiled in the harsh winter, many buried their loved ones in this nearby cemertery.
Amazing any of them lived. 

Names of those buried here.

Grid up your loins, Fresh courage take, Our God will never, Us forsake

Next to the visitor's center (museum), is the cemetery, and a beautiful temple.

Love this...

The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Winter Quarters Temple, Omaha, Nebraska.

A major storm happened on our way there, the second wave coming while we were inside the museum.
But when we stepped out to go to the cemetery, it stopped.
Humid and overcast, everything was a lovely green.
We parked on the side of the road, googling for a restaurant, when suddenly what appeared???

Fuzzy deer pic from inside the car:)

Deer!!!
They crossed the cemetery, hopped the fence, and timidly passed by us.
Beautiful.

We over nighted in Omaha, then detoured a little more to go by the hubs' mom's home place.
Dexter, Kansas.
Hubs was so happy to share this with my mom.
LilDog and I were just along for the ride:).

Henry's Candy Co., Dexter, Kansas

First we were FORCED to go to the candy store hubs went to as a kid while visiting his grandma. 
I have been there before, AND meet Mr. Henry himself, before he died.
Mr. Henry created the Oh Henry bar, and they still make so much goodness on site.
I won't tell  how much we spent.
OR ATE on the way home.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

The hubs and I at the Maple City cem.  6/12

Then to the cemetery.
We do LOVE a good graveyard.

Row of family members.

Other direction.
The plants are peonies.
We had missed their blooms.
In Wisconsin they were still in bloom.
We don't have those in Texas. :(
If I lived up north, I would have peonies. 
Beautiful, beautiful peonies.)

Asparagus along the fence line, next to Maple City cem., near Dexter, Kansas

Hubs tells stories of going asparagus harvesting from the ditches near his grandma's house.
Every time we have been we have seen NO asparagus.
This time we saw it EVERY where.
Even next to the grave stones. 
And, of course, I didn't bring a shovel.  :(
But I.will.be.back.
And I will be packing (a shovel).
Got a cool spot for an asparagus bed at mom's.

Street signs near mother-in-law's home place (home site: most right bunch of trees)

This corner means you've gone too far.
Its looking back at the place.
Hubs mom, and granddad were both raised on this land.

Hubs and I on the 'front porch'

A corral is now where the house was.
The cows were NOT impressed.
Not at all.

Home place, Otto, Kansas

Hubs has so many memories of visiting his grandma here.

Signs headed there. 

Taking pictures of signs may be my new thing. 

Family church.  Hicks Chapel.  

 Of course went by the church.
Hubs parents, and grandparents were married here.
(We attended the grandma's funeral here in 1990.)

House in 'town'

Then grandma moved from 'the farm' to 'town'.
She lived here until she went to the nursing home, then heaven.
I met her here shortly after we were married.
Two years later she passed.
I'm so glad the hubs took me up to meet her.
Very glad.
Last time we were in town, the current occupants shared some of the rose bush that was growing in the hedge row:

Rose bush in the hedge row

When this grandma moved to town she brought her mother-in-law's rose bush from the farm.
(small red cluster bloomer)

Spent blooms

It once grew in front of the house, but being old and sickly, was cut down.
In 1988, while visiting, we asked for a cutting, but she said it was gone.

Did she know it was growing in the hedgerow bordering the property?
She didn't go outside and work in the yard then, and its on the other side of her line.
How did it get in the hedgerow? 
Hmmmmmmmmm....

Hubs feels like the next time we go back this house will be gone.
It is in real bad shape.
But the memories will still live on.


After a great trip to see my step-kids in WI, Winter Quarters NB, and hubs maternal family spots in KS, we headed home to TX.
Tired, full, and very pleased.
Thank you, God, for the history.
MY history.
My people-my stories.
This precious time on earth.
Help me honor it.
Help me honor you in my journey.
And, again, thank you.